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International Committee of the Red Cross

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a
humanitarian institution based in Geneva, Switzerland. The ICRC is part of the
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement along with the International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and 190 National
Societies. It is the oldest and most honoured organization within the Movement
and one of the most widely recognized organizations in the world, having won
three Nobel Peace Prizes in 1917, 1944, and 1963.

The official mission statement of ICRC says that: "The
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an impartial, neutral, and
independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect
the lives and dignity of victims of war and internal violence and to provide
them with assistance." It also directs and coordinates international
relief and works to promote and strengthen humanitarian law and universal
humanitarian principles. The core tasks of the Committee, which are derived
from the Geneva Conventions and its own statutes are:

1.to
monitor compliance of warring parties with the Geneva Conventions

2.to
organize nursing and care for those who are wounded on the battlefield

3.to
supervise the treatment of prisoners of war and make confidential interventions
with detaining authorities

4.to
help with the search for missing persons in an armed conflict (tracing service)

5.to
organize protection and care for civil populations

6.to
act as a neutral intermediary between warring parties

The ICRC drew up seven fundamental principles in 1965 that
were adopted by the entire Red Cross Movement. They are humanity, impartiality,
neutrality, independence, volunteerism, unity, and universality.

ICRC operations are generally based on International
Humanitarian Law (IHL), the four Geneva Conventions of 1949, their two
Additional Protocols of 1977 and Additional Protocol III of 2005, the Statutes
of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and the resolutions
of the International Conferences of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.

International Humanitarian Law (IHL), Treaties and Customary
Law International Humanitarian Law is a set of rules that come into effect in
armed conflicts. It aims to minimize the harms of an armed conflict by imposing
obligations and duties to those who participate in armed conflicts. IHL mainly
deals with two parts, the protection of persons who are not, or no longer
taking part in fighting and restrictions on the means and methods of warfare
such as weapons and tactics. IHL is founded upon Geneva conventions which were
first signed in 1864 by 16 countries.

Traditions and Customs had governed the
conduct of war until then, which varied depending on the location and time. The
First Geneva Convention of 1949 covers the protection for the wounded and sick
of armed conflict on land. The Second Geneva Convention asks for the protection
and care for the wounded, sick and shipwrecked of armed conflict at sea. The
Third Geneva Convention emphasizes the treatment of prisoners of war. The
Fourth Geneva Convention concerns the protection of civilians in time of war.
In addition, there are many more body of Customary International Laws (CIL)
that come into effect when necessary.

International Committee of the Red Cross
Reviewed by Manish Kumar
on
05:06
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